Integrated Anesthesia Ultrasound Interface for Real-Time Data Correlation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current anesthesia systems and ultrasound imaging systems are not integrated, leading to cumbersome operations, time-based synchronization challenges, and lack of correlation between stored ultrasound images and hemodynamic measurements.

Innovation Solution

An integrated anesthesia system that combines ultrasound imaging capabilities, allowing simultaneous display of ultrasound images, anesthesia monitoring parameters, and therapy settings on a single or multiple displays, with real-time data synchronization and cloud-based data processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate anesthesia systems and ultrasound systems are used, then each system can be optimized for its specific function, but the device complexity and operational burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem optimizationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines separate anesthesia monitoring system and ultrasound imaging system into a single integrated system. The anesthesia system housing incorporates both anesthesia monitoring components and ultrasound imaging components, allowing them to function together as one unified device rather than separate systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated system performs multiple functions simultaneously - it provides both anesthesia monitoring capabilities and ultrasound imaging capabilities through a single device. The system can display both anesthesia parameters and ultrasound images on its display system, making it a multi-functional platform

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Illumination intensity

If separate anesthesia systems and ultrasound systems are placed on opposite sides of the clinician, then each system has dedicated display space, but the ease of operation decreases due to attention switching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay visibilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display system of the integrated system shows both ultrasound images and anesthesia monitoring parameters on the same display interface. This consolidation allows the clinician to view all critical information from a single location rather than switching between separate displays positioned on opposite sides

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system integrates multiple types of information (ultrasound imaging data and hemodynamic measurements) into a single unified display space, effectively adding a new dimension to information presentation where previously separate data streams now coexist in one visual field

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Quantity of substance

If separate anesthesia systems and ultrasound systems are used, then each system can store its own data independently, but time-based synchronization and data correlation become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata storage capacityVSAvoiddata synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated system combines the data storage and processing functions of both anesthesia monitoring and ultrasound imaging into a unified system. This allows time-based synchronization of data from both modalities since they share a common time reference and storage architecture, eliminating the synchronization problems of separate systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes bidirectional communication between the ultrasound imaging components and anesthesia monitoring components, allowing real-time data exchange and correlation. This feedback mechanism ensures that data from both systems are properly synchronized and can be correlated for comprehensive patient assessment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4672258A1System and method for integrating ultrasound imaging with an anesthesia system
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC
  • EP4672258A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4672258A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4672258A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An anesthesia system includes a housing, a display system coupled to housing, and an ultrasound probe communicatively coupled to the anesthesia system. The anesthesia system includes a memory encoding processor-executable routines disposed within the housing. The anesthesia system includes a processing system disposed within the housing. The processing system includes one or more processors and is configured to access the memory and to execute the processor-executable routines, wherein the processor-executable routines, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to perform actions. The actions include receiving scan data of a subject receiving anesthesia therapy from the ultrasound probe. The actions also include receiving patient vital data representative of anesthesia monitoring parameters of the subject from sources of patient vital data or sensors. The actions further include displaying the anesthesia monitoring parameters and an ultrasound image derived from the scan data on the display system.